Why we need your help

However, protection of marine habitats is lagging about 50 years behind those on land and marine species have continued to decline. Being mostly out of sight puts undersea habitats at greater risk. They are less understood, less appreciated and damage can go unnoticed for a long time.

More than 80% of marine habitats and species in European waters have been reported as not in good environmental status.

Your donation will make a difference

Your donation to the Dorset Marine Conservation Fund will help us carry out important work to secure a future for Dorset’s fabulous marine environment. The fund will help us establish more Marine Protected Areas in our waters and continue to engage, educate and inspire people about the value of Dorset’s fabulous marine environment.

A gift of £20 would enable us to survey four hectares of seabed using multibeam echosounders.

A gift of £50 could cover the cost of producing a Seashore Explorer Pack.

A gift of £100 could set-up a marine hatchery tank at our Marine Centre, for hatching stranded cuttlefish, squid and catshark eggs.

A gift of £250 will cover a half day boat charter for survey diving.

We will use donations as the ‘match funding’ needed for grant applications; so for every £1 donated through this appeal, up to £10 more may be released through grants for marine conser vation work.

Please give as much as you can afford. 100% of your donation will be put towards this appeal.

A donation receipt will be sent to you by email once your donation has been processed.